HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Fire and medical crews worked feverishly in the hot, hellish environment to try and save as many lives as possible from the burning wreckage.
More than 20 Marines from Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, part of MCB Hawaii's Marine Corps Air Facility, assisted with the mass casualty drill recently, by portraying the blood-splattered victims of a plane that had experienced landing gear failure upon arriving at Honolulu International Airport.
Several area high schools participated in the drill; more than 50 teenage students lent a helping hand to authorities by portraying the crash victims as well.
More than 400 people responded to the large-scale drill from numerous agencies here, and in Honolulu, each treating it as if it were an actual emergency.
"All airports that accommodate aircraft greater than 30 passengers are required to conduct drills like this every three years under Federal Aviation Regulation 139," said Ronnie Simpson, Honolulu Airport's Federal Aviation Administration district office manager. "This particular event was a full-scale emergency disaster drill mixed with a mass casualty drill."
"I think they did a [really] good job, considering everything that was going on and all of the casualties involved in the drill," said Sgt. Melissa L. Ohm, a crash crewman for ARFF.
For more than an hour and a half, medical and rescue workers toiled at their trade under the intense Oahu sun, trying to save as many lives as possible.
After the last of the 79 casualties was taken away by ambulances, and the flightline cleared of debris, only then could the firefighters and rescuers take a moment to reflect upon what took place during the hour and 40 minutes it took them to complete the drill.
"This whole event was to test the airport's emergency plan," said Peter Phillips, assistant fire chief of Honolulu International Airport, "and it went well.
"My goal was to get medical care to the casualties within an hour after the crash. That time is called the 'Golden Hour.'"
Victims of aviation accidents have a considerably greater chance of survival if they receive medical attention within the first hour after a crash, according to Phillips.
"We were able to implement a tagging system for casualties that helped rescue workers, sort them into three separate triage areas, according to significance of injury," said Phillips.
As firefighters and medical personnel packed up, they discussed some of the situations and scenarios that had taken place that morning.
Many wore smiles on their faces knowing that they had done their job well.
Those tasked with evaluating the event would have a lot of information to critique.
"They put forth the effort and took the drill seriously, despite the lack of true danger," said Simpson upon reflection.